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...
Together, they walked back into the mansion as the first morning of the new year continued around them.
The quiet morning at Richmond did not last forever.
It was peaceful, certainly, but football had a way of waiting patiently in the background. Even when there was no match that day, no training session demanding an early alarm and no journey to a stadium, the season remained there on the calendar, moving forward one date at a time.
Francesco and Leah spent most of the rest of New Year's Day at home.
There was nothing particularly ambitious about it.
They had coffee, talked, watched some television and eventually found themselves drifting between different rooms of the house without any real reason to be anywhere in particular. Cheddar followed them whenever he felt like it, sometimes settling beside the sofa and sometimes disappearing upstairs before returning several minutes later as though he had been conducting an inspection.
Football came up occasionally.
It was impossible for it not to.
But Francesco wasn't studying opponents or thinking about formations. The next match was still ahead of him, and there was enough time before Arsenal needed to become serious again.
For once, the calendar had given him room to breathe.
The second day of the new year was much the same.
The house had returned to its ordinary rhythm. The decorations were still around, but the festive feeling was beginning to soften. Christmas and New Year's celebrations were becoming memories rather than immediate events.
By the afternoon, Francesco had started looking toward the coming match.
Arsenal's first competitive fixture of 2019 was approaching.
Fulham were coming to the Emirates.
The thought of football becoming competitive again felt strangely natural.
The celebrations had ended.
The families had gone home.
The new year had begun.
Now came the familiar part.
Arsenal returned to London Colney and gradually shifted their attention back toward football. There was no need for a dramatic reset. The squad already knew what was expected of them.
The season had not stopped.
Neither had their ambitions.
Wenger's message was simple: the calendar had changed, but the standards had not.
Arsenal had spent the previous year collecting trophies, breaking records and establishing themselves as one of Europe's strongest sides. None of that mattered once the next ninety minutes began.
Fulham would arrive wanting something from the match.
Arsenal had to make sure they left without it.
The preparation was efficient. The players worked through the final details, looked at Fulham's shape and movements, and sharpened the areas Wenger believed could decide the game.
There was no overcomplication.
The team knew each other too well for that.
Two days after New Year's Eve, the familiar anticipation returned.
By matchday, the Emirates was ready.
Arsenal's regular starting lineup was selected once again.
Petr Čech started in goal.
Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Laurent Koscielny and Kyle Walker formed the defensive line.
N'Golo Kanté and Granit Xhaka occupied the central midfield.
Mesut Özil operated ahead of them.
Alexis Sánchez and Serge Gnabry started on the flanks.
And Francesco Lee led the attack and wore the captain's armband.
It was a familiar group.
That familiarity mattered.
There was no sense that Arsenal were beginning again. They were continuing.
The opening whistle confirmed it.
Fulham immediately tried to make the contest uncomfortable. They defended with numbers when Arsenal had possession and attempted to close the central spaces before Özil or Francesco could turn.
For the first several minutes, Arsenal had to work patiently.
The ball moved from Robertson to Xhaka, across to Walker, back through Kanté and then forward again. Fulham's players followed the movement, trying to keep their defensive lines compact.
But Arsenal kept shifting them.
Alexis moved inside.
Gnabry stayed wider before suddenly attacking the space between full-back and centre-back.
Özil drifted into pockets.
Francesco alternated between dropping toward the midfield and making runs beyond the defensive line.
There was no single pattern Fulham could comfortably settle against.
In the 12th minute, Özil nearly found the opening.
Kanté won the ball in midfield and immediately played it forward. Özil received under pressure, turned away from his marker and slipped a pass toward Francesco.
The striker reached it just inside the area, but a Fulham defender recovered quickly enough to block his first attempt.
The rebound fell toward Alexis.
He struck it first time.
It flew narrowly over.
Francesco clapped his hands.
"Keep going."
The message was as much for himself as anyone else.
Arsenal were getting closer.
Fulham continued to compete, and there were moments when their counterattacks forced Arsenal's defence to retreat. Čech had to remain alert, particularly when Fulham attempted to release runners into the channels behind Robertson and Walker.
But Arsenal's control grew as the half progressed.
Kanté was everywhere.
Xhaka kept the ball moving.
Özil continued searching for the pass that would break the defensive structure.
And eventually, the opening arrived.
Twenty-five minutes had been played when Arsenal worked the ball through the middle once more.
Xhaka found Özil.
Özil took one touch and immediately looked forward.
Francesco had already begun moving.
The run was subtle at first.
He drifted away from the nearest centre-back, then accelerated into the space that had appeared between the defenders.
Özil saw it.
The pass came quickly.
Francesco reached the ball just outside the penalty area, took it into his stride and carried it forward.
A defender stepped across.
Francesco shifted the ball onto his preferred foot.
For a fraction of a second, there was space.
That was enough.
He struck through the ball with precision.
The shot travelled low and hard toward the corner.
The goalkeeper stretched.
He couldn't reach it.
The net moved.
"GOAL!"
The Emirates erupted.
Francesco turned toward the supporters, arms opening instinctively as the noise rolled down from the stands.
Alexis reached him first.
Then Gnabry.
Özil arrived moments later, smiling as Francesco pointed toward him.
"Perfect pass."
Özil simply nodded.
"Good finish."
The celebration lasted only as long as it needed to.
Francesco looked toward the centre circle.
"One."
The players jogged back into position.
Arsenal led 1–0.
Fulham responded with more urgency.
They pushed their midfield higher and tried to disrupt Arsenal's rhythm before the home side could establish another sustained spell of possession.
For several minutes, it worked.
Arsenal were forced into a few hurried passes.
Koscielny made an important interception.
Van Dijk won an aerial challenge.
Čech gathered a cross before a Fulham attacker could reach it.
Then Arsenal regained control.
Once they did, the pressure returned.
Alexis began appearing more frequently in central areas, combining with Özil and Francesco.
Gnabry attacked the opposite side with increasing confidence.
Fulham were being stretched.
And in the 34th minute, Arsenal found the second.
The move began with Robertson advancing down the left.
He played inside to Xhaka.
Xhaka moved the ball quickly to Özil, who had dropped toward the ball before turning away from pressure.
Alexis had already started his run.
Özil released him.
Alexis entered the penalty area from the left and took a touch toward the centre.
The defender tried to close the angle.
Alexis didn't hesitate.
He struck the ball firmly across goal.
The goalkeeper got a hand to it, but not enough.
The shot found the net.
2–0.
Alexis spun away with a grin.
Francesco ran toward him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"That's two."
Alexis laughed.
"Not finished."
"Good."
They returned to their positions.
Arsenal had a two-goal advantage, but nobody on the pitch behaved as though the match had already been decided.
Fulham still had time.
Arsenal simply had control.
The remainder of the half followed that pattern. Fulham attempted to find a way back, but Arsenal's defensive structure remained disciplined.
At the other end, the home side continued to threaten whenever space opened.
The whistle eventually sounded for halftime with Arsenal leading 2–0.
The second half began with Fulham trying to change the momentum.
They pushed forward more aggressively.
But that approach also created spaces.
Arsenal recognized them.
Kanté intercepted a loose pass and immediately moved the ball forward.
Xhaka followed.
Özil received between the lines.
Francesco made a run that pulled one defender away, opening a lane for Alexis.
Özil found him.
Alexis took the ball into the area.
He shaped as though he would cross, then cut inside instead.
The defender hesitated.
That was enough.
Alexis drove the shot toward the far corner.
It went beyond the goalkeeper and into the net.
Fifty-seven minutes.
3–0.
Alexis raised both arms as his teammates approached.
Gnabry was laughing.
"You're not stopping."
Alexis shook his head.
"Why would I?"
Francesco smiled.
The brace had put Alexis at the centre of the afternoon.
Fulham now faced a much steeper task.
They needed three goals merely to draw level, while Arsenal were still moving the ball with confidence.
And the fourth came six minutes later.
Sixty-three minutes.
Gnabry received possession on the right after Arsenal worked through another compact Fulham block.
He exchanged passes with Özil, then accelerated into the penalty area.
Francesco's movement dragged a defender toward the centre.
That created room.
Gnabry attacked it.
He took one final touch and finished cleanly.
4–0.
The Emirates celebrated again.
Gnabry turned toward the corner, arms raised, before being surrounded by teammates.
Wenger watched from the technical area.
The match was under control.
Now came the sensible part.
Fresh legs.
The manager turned toward his bench.
"Giroud. Smith Rowe. Saka."
All three stood.
Wenger then made the changes.
Francesco was replaced by Olivier Giroud.
Serge Gnabry came off for Emile Smith Rowe.
Alexis Sánchez, having scored twice, made way for Bukayo Saka.
As Francesco reached the touchline, the supporters applauded loudly.
He raised a hand toward the stands.
Gnabry received the same recognition.
Alexis received an especially warm ovation after his two-goal contribution.
The three players acknowledged the supporters before heading toward the bench.
Francesco took a seat beside the coaching staff, accepted a bottle of water and watched the game from a different perspective.
Saka immediately became involved.
The young winger looked eager, taking up positions between the Fulham full-back and centre-back.
Smith Rowe brought fresh movement through midfield.
Giroud provided a different kind of presence up front, holding the ball and bringing teammates into play.
Arsenal did not simply sit back.
That was not Wenger's style when the team still had control of the match and opportunities remained.
They continued looking forward.
In the 77th minute, the fifth arrived.
Smith Rowe collected the ball in midfield and moved it toward Giroud.
Giroud held off his marker before laying it back into the path of Saka.
Saka took possession just outside the area.
He drove toward the box.
One defender moved across.
Saka shifted the ball.
Then he finished.
The shot flew into the corner.
5–0.
Saka stood still for half a second, almost as though he needed to make sure it had really gone in.
Then his teammates reached him.
Giroud hugged him.
Smith Rowe grabbed his shoulder.
Saka laughed.
His first goal of 2019 had arrived on the opening competitive afternoon of the year.
From the bench, Francesco applauded.
"That's it, Bukayo!"
Saka looked toward him and pointed.
The rest of the match became about managing the result without losing concentration.
Fulham continued trying.
They did not stop competing simply because the scoreline had become overwhelming.
But Arsenal were too comfortable.
Van Dijk and Koscielny dealt with crosses.
Kanté continued closing spaces.
Xhaka kept possession moving.
Özil found opportunities to slow the tempo when necessary.
At the other end, Giroud nearly added a sixth when he met a cross with a powerful header, but the goalkeeper saved.
Smith Rowe also came close after cutting inside and curling a shot just wide.
There would be no more goals.
When the final whistle came, Arsenal had won 5–0.
The players exchanged handshakes with the Fulham side before turning toward the stands.
Francesco walked out with the rest of the team, applauding the supporters who had stayed until the end.
The Emirates responded warmly.
It was an emphatic beginning to the new calendar year, but inside the Arsenal squad it felt less like a statement and more like a continuation of what they had already built.
The previous season's ambition had not disappeared with the fireworks.
It had simply followed them into January.
Alexis stood among his teammates, still smiling after his two goals.
A few minutes later, the Man of the Match award was announced.
Alexis Sánchez.
He accepted it with a modest smile, lifting the award briefly before turning toward the supporters.
Francesco walked over and congratulated him.
"Two goals. Deserved."
Alexis nodded.
"Good start."
Francesco looked around the pitch.
"Very good start."
The two exchanged a quick handshake before rejoining the others.
Arsenal had opened 2019 with five goals, a clean sheet and three points.
There would be harder matches ahead.
There always were.
But for one afternoon at the Emirates, everything had worked exactly as Arsenal wanted.
Then the morning after Arsenal's victory over Fulham arrived without the urgency that had accompanied the previous day.
There was no need to replay the match in Francesco's head.
The five goals had already been recorded, the points were secure, and the players had moved on almost immediately after the final whistle. By the following day, the attention of the football world had already begun shifting elsewhere.
January had arrived.
And with it came the winter transfer window.
At Richmond, Francesco had settled into the sofa beside Leah, one leg stretched comfortably in front of him while the television played quietly across the room.
Cheddar was lying nearby.
The dog seemed considerably less interested in football transfers than his owner.
Francesco held a mug between both hands, occasionally taking a drink while watching the television.
Leah sat beside him, her attention divided between the screen and whatever she happened to be doing on her phone.
The room had the relaxed feeling of a day that did not require either of them to rush anywhere.
On the television, the sports channel had already moved into its January coverage.
A presenter stood in front of a graphic announcing the opening of the winter transfer window.
"January is officially open," the presenter said. "And clubs across the Premier League are already beginning to make their moves."
Francesco leaned slightly forward.
Leah noticed.
"You're interested now."
"I was always interested."
She smiled.
"Of course you were."
Francesco kept his eyes on the screen.
"I just want to see what Arsenal do."
"That sounds more accurate."
The presenter continued speaking as images of several Premier League clubs appeared behind him.
"Some major business has already been completed, and Chelsea have made the first major statement of the window."
A photograph of Christian Pulisic appeared on the screen.
Francesco immediately recognized him.
The presenter continued.
"Chelsea have completed the signing of Christian Pulisic for £58 million, equivalent to approximately €64 million."
Leah looked toward Francesco.
"That's a lot of money."
Francesco nodded.
"Yeah."
He watched the footage as Pulisic appeared in Chelsea colours.
"That's a serious signing."
The television showed highlights of the American winger before returning to the presenter.
"Chelsea have moved quickly to secure Pulisic, making him one of the first major arrivals of the January window."
Leah tilted her head.
"Do you think that's the kind of money clubs normally want to spend in January?"
"Not usually if they don't have to," Francesco replied. "But every club has different circumstances."
She looked back toward the screen.
"Fifty-eight million pounds."
Francesco smiled.
"You're still thinking about the number."
"I am."
"Fair."
The programme moved on.
But Chelsea had not finished.
The next graphic appeared almost immediately.
This time, it showed Gonzalo Higuaín.
The presenter explained that Chelsea had also brought the Juventus striker to London on loan.
Leah raised her eyebrows.
"Another one?"
Francesco nodded.
"Higuaín too."
"Chelsea are busy."
"They certainly are."
The television showed archive footage of Higuaín scoring goals in Italy.
Francesco watched silently for a few seconds.
"He gives them another option up front."
Leah glanced at him.
"You sound like Wenger."
Francesco laughed.
"I'm just saying."
"You're sitting on the sofa analysing Chelsea transfers."
"That's allowed."
"I never said it wasn't."
She smiled and settled back against the sofa.
The presenter continued discussing Chelsea's activity, but Francesco's attention gradually shifted.
He was waiting for one particular club to appear.
Arsenal.
Eventually, the Chelsea segment ended.
The screen changed.
A familiar red graphic appeared.
"Now to Arsenal," the presenter announced. "And there has already been movement at the Emirates as Arsène Wenger begins shaping his squad for the second half of the season."
Francesco sat a little straighter.
Leah looked at him.
"There we go."
"Finally."
The presenter continued.
"Arsenal have confirmed that Matteo Guendouzi has joined Hertha Berlin on loan."
Francesco's expression changed slightly.
He knew Guendouzi well enough.
The midfielder had only joined Arsenal during the summer, and despite his youth, he had already become part of the squad's rotation.
Leah looked toward Francesco.
"That's a little surprising."
"Maybe," he said.
He continued watching the television.
The presenter showed footage of Guendouzi in an Arsenal shirt.
"He's only been here a few months."
"Yeah."
Francesco paused.
"But a loan doesn't mean he's gone permanently."
Leah nodded.
"True."
"It could be useful for him."
She looked at him.
"You think he'll get more playing time there?"
"That's probably the point."
Francesco didn't sound particularly certain. He wasn't trying to predict what would happen.
He simply understood what a young player's development could require.
"He's talented," he added. "And he's still young."
Leah nodded.
"He'll come back."
"Hopefully."
The television moved to the next part of the report.
The presenter smiled slightly.
"But Arsenal's January business does not stop there."
Francesco immediately looked back at the screen.
A new photograph appeared.
Denis Suárez.
The presenter continued.
"Arsenal have also brought in Denis Suárez from Barcelona on loan."
Leah looked at Francesco.
"Barcelona."
"Yeah."
Francesco watched as footage of Suárez appeared.
"That's interesting."
"Do you know much about him?"
"Enough."
He thought for a moment.
"He's technical. Comfortable with the ball. Can play in midfield and further forward."
Leah nodded.
"So another attacking option?"
"Another option in that area, yeah."
The presenter continued explaining the move while images of Suárez in Barcelona colours played behind him.
Arsenal had therefore made two moves at the beginning of the window.
One player leaving temporarily.
One arriving temporarily.
Francesco watched the screen carefully.
He wasn't surprised that Arsenal were doing business.
What interested him more was what the moves might mean for the squad.
Guendouzi had been around the first-team group and had earned opportunities.
Now he would spend time at Hertha Berlin.
Denis Suárez, meanwhile, would arrive with experience at Barcelona and another profile for Wenger to use.
Leah noticed Francesco's expression.
"You're already thinking about how he'll fit in."
"Maybe."
She smiled.
"You are."
Francesco laughed softly.
"It's hard not to."
"Would you want Arsenal to sign more players?"
He considered the question.
"I don't know."
Leah looked at him.
"You don't?"
"We've got a very good squad."
"That is true."
"And January can be unpredictable."
She nodded.
"So you think they should just wait?"
"I didn't say that."
Leah smiled.
"You're very careful."
Francesco took another drink from his mug.
"It's football. Things change quickly."
The television presenter was now discussing Arsenal's squad depth and the arrival of Suárez, while the screen showed images of the midfielder.
Francesco listened.
The report remained focused on the confirmed moves.
No speculation was presented as fact.
No additional Arsenal arrival was announced.
That seemed to suit him.
He didn't need a list of rumours.
He wanted to know what had actually happened.
Leah looked down at her phone for a moment.
"There are already people talking about other transfers."
"There always are."
"Some of them are probably nonsense."
"Probably."
She put the phone aside.
"I suppose that's what January is like."
Francesco nodded.
"The window opens and suddenly everyone knows who every club supposedly wants."
Leah laughed.
"Even when the clubs don't."
"Exactly."
Cheddar shifted on the floor and lifted his head toward the television.
Francesco looked down at him.
"What do you think?"
The corgi stared back.
Leah smiled.
"He's waiting for the important news."
"Which is?"
"Dinner."
Francesco laughed.
"Probably."
Cheddar lowered his head again.
The television moved on to another round of transfer discussion.
Francesco remained interested.
The first day of the window had already produced significant movement.
Chelsea had spent £58 million on Christian Pulisic and had brought Gonzalo Higuaín in from Juventus on loan.
Arsenal had sent Matteo Guendouzi to Hertha Berlin on loan and brought Denis Suárez in from Barcelona on loan.
That was enough activity to make the opening of January feel real.
But it was only the beginning.
Leah leaned back beside him.
"So that's Arsenal's first bit of business."
"For now."
She looked at him.
"You're waiting for the next announcement."
Francesco smiled.
"I want to see what happens."
"You could just watch the programme."
"I am."
"You're watching it like it's a match."
Francesco looked at her and laughed.
"That's not true."
"It absolutely is."
He shook his head.
"I don't even have a ball."
"That has never stopped you before."
Francesco laughed again.
The television continued talking about the transfer window.
The images changed from one club to another, but every few minutes Arsenal's crest appeared again as presenters discussed the club's confirmed January movements.
Francesco remained on the sofa beside Leah, watching without trying to force conclusions from information that wasn't there.
There would be plenty of time for football.
Plenty of time for training.
Plenty of time for matches.
And plenty of time for the rest of the window to unfold.
For now, they simply watched.
January had only just opened.
Nobody knew yet what the next few weeks would bring.
Francesco reached for his mug again and settled back into the sofa.
Leah glanced at the television.
Then at him.
"Still watching?"
"Of course."
She smiled.
"Thought so."
The programme continued into its next transfer segment, and the two of them remained there together, following the developing news as the winter window slowly began to take shape around Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League.
__________________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 20 (2018)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, FA Cup 2016/2017, 2016/2017 Champions League, 2017/2018 Carabao Cup, Premier League 2017/2018, FA Cup 2017/2018, Champions League 2017/2018, 2018 World Cup, and 2018/2019 Community Shield.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 27
Goal: 30
Assist: 1
MOTM: 0
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 2
Goal: 2
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 59
Goal: 76
Assist: 6
MOTM: 7
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 11
Goal: 14
Assist: 1
MOTM: 7
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9